cdc theatre

What cdc theatre does

CDC Theatre, legally known as The Cranford Dramatic Club, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre organization founded in 1918-1919 and currently operating its 108th Mainstage Season (2026-27). Headquartered at 78 Winans Avenue in Cranford, New Jersey, the organization runs a 250-seat auditorium and is described as one of the largest and longest-running community theatres in New Jersey. It is entirely volunteer-staffed with no paid employees, governed by a Board of Officers and Board of Governors. The organization's core offering is a seasonal lineup of full-scale theatrical productions — musicals, plays, family entertainment, and experimental works — presented roughly from October through May each year. The current 108th season features Psycho Beach Party, Disney's Frozen, Grey Gardens, La Cage aux Folles, and Fiddler on the Roof.

The organization's technology footprint is minimal: it operates a standard website (cdctheatre.org) and uses SimpleTix as a third-party online ticketing platform. There is no proprietary technology, no app, no API integrations, and no AI/ML capabilities. Tickets are sold online via SimpleTix and at the on-site box office, which opens 45 minutes before each performance. Supporting programs include season subscriptions (with reserved seating), an annual membership program providing one complimentary ticket per Mainstage production, and a tax-deductible donation program accepting contributions from $10 to $200 or custom amounts.

Revenue mechanics rely on three streams: ticket sales (individual shows and season subscriptions), recurring donations and corporate sponsorships (with recognition in show programs), and annual memberships. The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying primarily on word-of-mouth, an email newsletter, and recurring patron loyalty within the Cranford and surrounding Union County, New Jersey area. Customer segments are general public patrons and family audiences seeking affordable local live theatre. Financial partners include the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Union County Office of Cultural Heritage Affairs, which administer grants supporting specific productions. The Cranford JayCees have also provided support enabling ASL-interpreted performances.

Name

cdc theatre

Legal name

The Cranford Dramatic Club

Website

https://cdctheatre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CDC Theatre (The Cranford Dramatic Club) is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit community theatre in Cranford, NJ, operating a 250-seat auditorium and producing a seasonal lineup of musicals, plays, and family productions for local New Jersey audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAD

Community & Amateur Theatre

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYTHAJAFAB

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Live Entertainment & Ticketed Events (Shows, Concerts, Sports Experiences)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Live musical theatre
• Theatrical performances
• Volunteer performing arts
• Community theatre programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual show tickets and season subscriptions. Tickets are sold online through SimpleTix platform and at the box office before performances.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporate sponsors. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available with recognition in programs and newsletters.
3. Membership: Membership program offering benefits including one complimentary ticket to each MainStage show, free exchanges, and access to member events and the annual gala.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CDC Theatre produces and presents full-scale live theatrical performances—including musicals, plays, and children's shows—in its 250-seat auditorium for the Cranford, New Jersey community. The organization operates as a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit and presents a seasonal program of productions supported by ticket sales, memberships, and donations.

Product overview

CDC Theatre (The Cranford Dramatic Club) is a nonprofit all-volunteer community theatre organization operating a 250-seat auditorium in Cranford, NJ. Its core offering is the Mainstage Season Productions—a series of full-scale theatrical performances including musicals, plays, and family entertainment presented from October through May each year. The 108th season features Psycho Beach Party, Disney's Frozen, Grey Gardens, La Cage aux Folles, and Fiddler on the Roof. Supporting offerings include season subscription packages and individual show tickets sold via SimpleTix, an annual membership program with complimentary show access, and a donation/sponsorship program. The organization also offers volunteer participation opportunities in production and front-of-house roles, and maintains an online archive of historical performances dating back to 1918.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Season Productions
• Season Subscriptions
• Individual Show Tickets
• Membership Program
• Donation Program
• Volunteer Program
• CDC Archives
• Frosted: A Frozen Fairytale Musical Parody

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• SimpleTixcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party online ticketing platform used for selling tickets to performances. Provides the ticketing infrastructure for CDC Theatre's website and box office operations.
• Cranford JayCeessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided generous support enabling ASL-interpreted performances for It Shoulda Been You production.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• George Street Playhouse: New Brunswick, NJ community theatre producing a season of plays and musicals. Comparable in mission to serve New Jersey audiences with subscription-based ticketed productions.
• Surflight Theatre: Beach Haven, NJ community theatre producing professional musicals each summer. Highly comparable in being a New Jersey community theatre with subscription ticketing and family programming.
• Paper Mill Playhouse: Historic regional theatre in Millburn, NJ producing musicals and plays. Operates a comparable New Jersey community/regional theatre model with subscription seasons and youth programming, but at a larger professional scale.
• Two River Theater: Red Bank, NJ-based professional regional theatre producing a mainstage season of plays and musicals. Comparable in producing ticketed live theatre for NJ audiences with subscription and education programs.
• Bucks County Playhouse: New Hope, PA-based regional theatre producing musicals and plays. Comparable community/regional theatre model with subscription seasons and family programming in the mid-Atlantic.
• Barter Theatre: State theatre of Virginia located in Abingdon, VA, producing a long-running season of plays and musicals. Highly comparable in being a long-established community/regional theatre with subscription ticketing.
• Cape Playhouse: Dennis, MA historic summer theatre producing plays and musicals. Comparable in operating a long-running community theatre model producing ticketed seasons for a defined local audience.

Broad incumbents

• McCarter Theatre Center: Princeton, NJ-based larger theatre complex producing a broader mix of theatre, music, and dance. A NJ institutional incumbent offering overlapping live theatre programming at greater scale and resource level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cdc theatre